Reproduction and behaviour
Laticauda colubrina - a similar species to Laticauda crockeri © Jens Petersen, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license
Reproduction and life history
The mode of reproduction of Laticauda crockeri is unknown.
All females so far collected have small, immature, gonads. However there are persistent local reports of viviparity (live-bearing) which, if true would make them unique among the sea kraits.
All other known sea kraits are egg laying and females need to return to land for this purpose.
It seems possible that Laticauda crockeri is therefore more aquatic in its habits than any other sea krait. In this respect L. crockeri possibly resembles the true sea snakes (Hydrophiinae) which are entirely aquatic and are similarly live-bearing.
Behaviour
Laticauda crockeri have been observed foraging at depths ranging from a few centimetres (near the lake edge) to about 13m. They spend much of the time investigating uneven surfaces and crevices, apparently searching for fish, but largely ignore areas of smooth rock.
Submergence times average about 8 minutes. When they return to the surface to breathe they sometimes take 1 breath and remain for about 2 seconds or they may take multiple breaths and remain up to 45 seconds.
